Flying-machine of the aeroplane type.



M. B. PUPP.

FLYING MACHINE OF THE AEROPLANE TYPE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9. 1 914.

1,128,272. Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W/ T A/f 555: 4 /N)/EA/ Ta 2.

. v 11429;;- Uiii Mad e-6L Y {mg M..B. PUPP. FLYING MACHINE OF THE AEROPL'ANE TYPE;

M. PUPP. FLYING MACHINE OF THE 'AEROPLANE TYPE} APPLICATION FILEDJULY 8, i914 Patented Feb. 9, 19.15..

3 SHEETS SHEET 3.

FIG

UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

MAX 3. PUPP, OF CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-FIFTHS TO STEVE LEHOSKY, F CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA.

FLYING-MACHINE OF THE AERO PLANE TYPE.

Application filed July 8, 1914. Serial No. 849,663.

partment, insuring great buoyancy to the; machine while in the air, and safety when landing, or in case of accident to-the motor power, ,means for gradual descent, all the,

parts of, the apparatus being mounted upon a stron frame. V

The ain object of my invention is the production of a flying machine constructed of metal or other suitable combination of materials, and havin means by which the operator shall have a solute control of said i 26 machine while in the air, or when descending, and so constructed that in case of accident to one motor the machine could proceed on its flight by means of a second motor, at reduced speed. I 30' A further object is to provide means for o crating the air-dome compartment and p anes to afford great resistance when descending, thereby landing gradually, and minimum friction or'resistance when traveling through the air.

A further object is the adjusting'and tilting the planes of the side" Wings for steering purposes, and means for elevating the said side wings to a vertical osition at will or 40 when nearing the point 0 landing.

Another'object is, to generally improve this class of flying machines, rendering them more safe, useful, and commercially desirable. I

With the above'and other objects in view as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, it will be observed that the invention consists of certain construction, arrangement and combination of parts, as 60 hereinafter fully described, illustrated and claimed; but it is understood that numerous changes may be made in the construction of this invention, or the adjustable air-dome may be attached to and operated in'connection. with flying machines of other types Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 19 15.

without departing from the spirit and intent thereof.

I attain these objects by means of the construction and mechanism 5 illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the complete flying machine, except that the wings are removed; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lower portion of the machine, the wings and-ai'r-dome being omitted; Fig. 3 reprecents a vertical cross section of the complete machine, .showing the motors and controlling mechanism; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the complete machine, showing the two forward propelling wheels, only; Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the right front cprner of the air-dome in the open position and showing the relation of the planes toeach other when open; Fig. 6 represents a pervspective view of the right front corner of the air-dome with the planes'i n ithe closed position; Fig. -7 represents averti'cal cross section of the air-dome, showin thecirculation of the air currents when t e machine is descending. Fig. 8 represents a-prospective view of the wing frame as attached to the main frame, 1, and showing the means for raising andlowering rear edge of said wing..

Referring to the drawings, similar letters and numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, it being understood that each side of the machine is constructed precisely alike and all-parts operate and move together at the will of the operator.

The numeral 1 designates the skeleton frame, constructed of-tubing or other suitable material, securely fastened together atintersecting points; '2 designates fuel tanks; 3 operators seat; 4 designates the engines or motors resting upon the lower frame which is reinforced by truss rod 5. The engines are equipped with transmission shafts 6, extending forward and rearward longitudinally with the frame, having sprocket wheels 7 securely attached to the forward ends, and sprocket wheels 14 attached to the rear ends of said shafts; 10 designates forward propeller wheel shafts, attached to the frame by ournals,'having propeller wheels 11 securely attached to their outer ends. The rear ends of the said propeller shafts '10 have attached thereto sprocket wheels 9.

Numeral 8 designates sprocket chains, by means of which power is transmitted from the sprocket wheels 7 on the engines shafts to the sprocket wheels 9 on the forward propeller shafts.

16 designates the rear sprocket chains which transmit the power from the rear sprocket wheels 14 on the engines shafts to the sprocket wheels 15, which are rigidly attached to the rear propeller wheel shafts 13, which are securely attached to the frame by suitable journals.

l2designates the rear propeller wheels securely attached to the rear ends of shafts 13.

17 designates the lower steering rudder,

pivotally mounted on the frame by means of hinges 18. Attached to rudder 17 is gear segment 19, having gear teeth on the outer edge which engage pinion wheel 20, which is rigidly attached to vertical shaft 20, on the upper end of which is rope sheave 21. The rotating of the said sheave, back and forth, causes the rudder 17 to swing at dif ferent angles, thereby regulating the direction of the machine, causing it to turn to the right or left at the .Will, of the operator while the machine is in motion. The operator controls the ascent and descent of the machine while in motion by means of rudder 22, which is pivotally mounted upon the rear end of the frame by means of hinge 23. Rudder 22 has attached thereto gear segment 24, having teeth on the outer edge which engage pinion wheel 25, which is securely attached to one end of horizontal shaft 25'. To the other end of said shaft is rigidly attached sheave wheel 26. .The said sheave is rotated back and forth by means of wire rope under the control of the operator.

The machine is equipped with rigid plane A, having no openings and covering the upper center portion of the frame, and extendinglongitudinally its entire length. Immediately below plane A, is adjustable, two-part plane C, made to meet in the center, and pivotally attached to the frame 1 by means of hinge 2. Side wings 13" are equipped with upper plane 13 and lower plane B. Said wings are securely attached to the sides of the main frame by means of hinges a and a. The'upp'er and lower frames'of the wings B are held in parallel relation to each other by means of vertical supports Z) 6, which are pivotally attached to the upper and lower wing-frames by means of hinges b and b.

It will be observed that the said wings can be raised to a vertical position as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. The downward motion of said wings B is by means of wire ropes 35 one end of which is securely attached to the lower frame of the wing at 1, the said rope passing under sheave 35' to, and around, grooved spool 30,

the end of the rope being attached to said spool.

The upward motion of said wings maema is controlled by means of wire rope 36,

which is securely fastened to the lower por tion of said wing at 1", passing upward and over sheave 36, hence downward and around sheave 35", thence to, and around spool 30, the end being attached thereto.

It will be observed that both wings are controlled by the same means and operated fromthe same grooved spool 30. The operator, seated at 3, operates at his will hand wheel 27, which is attached to screw shaft 28, which engages worm wheel 29; the said worm Wheel and grooved spool 30 being each rigidly mounted on shaft 30. It is, therefore, readily understood that, by means of'these connections from the hand Wheel 27 to the wings B the operator has absolute control in the raising or lowering of both wings at the same time. It is also provided that the rear edge of the said wings B are'tilted up and down by means of lever 50, attached to shaft 51 at each end of which is attached arm 52, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 8, there being suitable connection 52' made between arms 52 and'the rear frame member of said wings see Fig. 8. It will be observed that, by the slight raising or lowering of the rear edge of the said wings, the operator can control the ascent and descent of the machine while in motion, independent of rudder 22- Pivotally attached to each side of the upper frame 1, and between the upper lane A and the lower two-part plane are planes D, E and F. These planes are attached to the frame at suitable points by means of pivot hinges 1. The said planes D, E and F are securely connected and held in a parallel position to each other by means of connecting rods 37 and 38, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Referring to Fig. 3, right side, it will be observed that planes D, E and F are shown in the parallel relation to each other, and in the open position; while the left side shows the planes tilted in the vertical, closed position, it being understood that both sides are alike and in operation these side planes open and close to ether.

eferring to Fig. 1, it will be observed that mounted on each end of the upper frame are planes G, H and J, pivotally connected to the frame by means of hinges 2 The said planes are connected together at their outer edge and held in parallel relation to each other by means of rods 46 and 47. The center plane H has an inwardly extending arm43, from the end of which a wire rope 44 is passed over sheaves 45' and sheaves 45 on the controller shaft 55. By rotating said shaft, the side planes D, E and Fare tilted upwardly to a closed position; and the end planes G, H and J are tilted downwardly to a closed position, by means of hand Wheel 31 attached to screw shaft 32, which engages worm wheel 33,

which is rigidly connected to shaft 55. The said shaft 55 extends longitudinally the entire length of the machine and is: mounted near the center, and securely attached to the frame by means of journals. Mounted on said controller shaft,,at each end and'near the center, are rope sheaves 42, and immediately above said sheaves and attached to plane A are sheaves 42.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be observed that wire ropes 39 are attached near the center of the lower side of two-part plane C. Said rope passes around sheaves 42, and extends upward between' the two-part plane C, to and around the sheaves 42 and 42", thence downward and connected to the upper part of plane C. The two-part plane C is raised and lowered, at the will of the operator, by rotating hand wheel 31 and the mechanism connected therewith, as shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be observed that the end planes G, H and J, and the side planes D, E and F, are all tilted in the open position and parallel with the planes A and C; the-lower plane C being in its lowest position, the two parts meeting in the center, thereby preventing currents of air from passing between them, but affording a free passage of air through the air-dome above from the ends and side with the minimum friction and resistance.

Fig. 6 illustrates the air-dome with the side and end planes closed. When the end and side planes are closed the two-part plane C will always be raised to its highest position, thereby causing a wide opening in the.

center, as shown in Fig. 7.

The object for constructing an air-dome of this character is that, in the event of the sudden descending of the flying machine, the operator can retard the descent and create extraordinary buoyancy by the simple turning of hand wheel 31 in a certain direction, and, by the mechanism already described he can immediately close the side and end planes, and, at the same time, open the lower two-part.plane C, as fully shown in Fig. 7 and by the further act of rotating hand wheel 31 back and forth the side planes D, Eand F, and the end planes G, H and J, are caused'to open and close, thus causing a strong current of air to rush under the flying machine, pass through the center opening of the lower two-part plane G into the air-dome, when, by the sudden closing of the end and side-planes, a cushioning efiect is produced. When this is spent, the operator slightly opens the side and end planes which enables the cushioned air to escape from the air-dome and again causes another rush current of air to enter the air-dome from below, and the cushioning effect is reproduced. It will, therefore, be observed that this operation and its results can be repeated flying machine'will-b'apparent, and while the accompanying drawings fully illustrate what I believe to be the preferred embodiment of my invention it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but

that various changes may bemade in the' construction, proportions and arrangement of parts, without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An aeroplane of the character described, including a supporting frame-work, the combination of an upper closed rigid plane closely covering the upper frame, and a lower pivoted two-part plane spaced from each other, carried by the frame-work, and extending longitudinally through the center thereof, means-for opening and closing the lower two-part plane as described.

2. An aeroplane of the character described including a supporting frame-work, upper rigid plane and lower pivoted two-part plane, spaced from each other, carried by the frame-work and extending longitudinally through the center thereof, means for opening and closing the lower two-part plane, a plurality of side planes 'spaced from each other, extending longitudinally at each side between the upper and lower planes, pivotally attached to said frame, the side planes being connected to each other at their edges by hinged rods, and means for tilting the side planes from the open horizontal position to the vertical closed position, as I shown.

3. An aeroplane of the character described including a supporting frame-work, upper rigid plane and lower pivoted two-part plane, spaced from each other, carried by the framework, and extending longitudinally through the center thereof, means for opening and closing the lower two-part plane, side planes, spaced from each other, extending longitudinally between the upper and lower planes pivotally attached to each side of the frame, the side planes being connected to each other by hinged rods, means for tilting the side planes from the open horizontal position to the vertical closed position, a plurality of end planes, pivotally attached to each end of said frame, spaced from each other and extending transversely between the upper and lower planes, the end planes being connected to each other at their ends by hinged rods, and means for swinging the said end planes from the open horizontal position to the vertical closed position, cooperating with the said side planes and lower two-part side wings having-upper and lower planes, spaced from each other and held parallel to each other by hinged connecting rods, the

wings being connected to the frame-work by upper and lower hinges, means for tilting said wings for steering purposes, and means lb for raising said wings to a vertical folded position substantially as set forth and described.

In testlmony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

MAX B. PUPP,

Witnesses:

MICHAEL ZAHN, G. I. DUTHIE. 

